Arts Alive!/Vive les arts!, the second annual Northeastern Ontario Regional Arts Conference (NORAC), takes place Friday, Oct. 3 in the evening and all day Saturday, Oct. 4, at Sudbury Secondary School at 85 MacKenzie St. in Sudbury.
"We are planning workshops and other events for more than 150 registrants this year, with more than 35 workshops in all four art forms, featuring presenters from across the North as well as several school boards in the Golden Horseshoe," said Ralph McIntosh, arts education co-ordinator, Rainbow District School Board.
The mandate of the Rainbow District School Board's Arts Task Force is to improve student and staff learning in and through the arts in all Rainbow Schools.
"As the board's arts education co-ordinator, my primary role is to work with elementary and secondary teachers, post-secondary arts and education faculty members, and community artists, to organize professional development activities for all teachers from kindergarten to Grade 12," added McIntosh.
The conference is co-sponsored by the Rainbow District School Board, working in conjunction with the Sudbury Catholic and Near North District School Boards, Laurentian and Nipissing Universities, and Learning Through the Arts Ontario Northeast.
The Friday evening keynote address, The Teacher as Artist/Transformer of Student Lives, will be delivered by Dr. Fiona Blaikie, art education professor at Lakehead University.
She is also a practicing artist as well as the author of a new educational resource for teachers, Canadian Art/Works: A Resource for Primary, Junior, Intermediate and Senior Teachers.
On Saturday the arts conference includes: 40 workshops in music, drama, dance and visual arts across all teaching divisions; French language workshops for elementary Core French and Immersion teachers; presentations by local elementary and secondary educators and community artists; guest clinicians from OMEA, CODE, OSEA and post-secondary faculties; displays of arts-related educational materials for perusal and purchase; a light lunch and refreshments at breaks is included in registration cost.
Arts Alive!/ Vive les arts! is open to elementary and secondary teachers from across Northeastern Ontario, community artists, and students in arts, music, and pre-service education programs at the university and college level.
Registration fees are $50 for the entire conference (Friday night and Saturday), $10 for Friday evening only, Saturday workshops $50. Online registration closes Tuesday, Sept. 30.
Tickets for the Friday night keynote and entertainment are on sale at the main office at Sudbury Secondary, at the door. This event is also open to the general public.
Teachers, university and college students, and community artists who wish to attend the workshops on Saturday must pre-register online by going to rainbowschools.coresolutions.ca and clicking on sign-up-here to set up an account, then follow the online process.
Registration for Saturday workshops automatically include admission to the Friday night gala.
For further information contact Ralph McIntosh, Rainbow Board Arts Co-ordinator for details on how to register at 705-674-7551 ext. 299 or [email protected] .
